Cedar Fair Season Pass Holders Are Suing the Theme Park for Refunds

A Cedar Fair season pass class action lawsuit has been filed against the amusement park operator, arguing that season pass holders deserve a refund for 2020.

Which Amusements Parks Does Cedar Fair Operate?

Cedar Fair operates many parks around the country under various names. In fact, many people may not even realize that their favorite local amusement park is owned and operated by Cedar Fair. The following amusement parks are operated by Cedar Fair:

• Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif.
• California’s Great America in Santa Clara, Calif.
• Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario
• Carowinds in Charlotte, N.C.
• King’s Dominion in Doswell, Va.
• Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minn.
• Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio
• Dorney Park in Allentown, Pa.
• Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun in Kansas City, Mo.
• Michigan’s Adventure in Muskegon, Mich.
• Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, Texas
• Schlitterbahn Water Park in Galveston, Texas
• King’s Island in Kings Mills, Ohio

How Have Cedar Fair Amusement Parks Been Affected By The Coronavirus Pandemic?

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many of Cedar Fair’s parks have been forced to either close or make significant changes to their operations.

For example, Cedar Point in Ohio only opened in July – much later into the 2020 season than is usual or expected. Even after the park opened, it was only available at 50% capacity in order to promote social distancing.

Other Cedar Fair amusement parks have been closed for the entirety of the 2020 season with no plans to reopen. These parks include California’s Great America, Canada’s Wonderland, Carowinds, King’s Dominion, and Valleyfair.

Like businesses across America, Cedar Fair has been keenly affected by the coronavirus pandemic closures. Even months into the pandemic, where some states have permitted reopening, Cedar Fair’s third quarter results have reportedly dropped significantly from last year.

During the third quarter of 2020, Cedar Fair’s parks reportedly had 1.3 million guests visit the park – 11.9 million guests less than those who visited in the third quarter of 2019. This may be in part due to the fact that six of Cedar Fair’s 13 fairs were closed during third quarter this year. Even if parks were open, many had fewer open days, reduced daily hours, limited events, and less marketing measures.

To make matters worse for Cedar Fair, park attendees spent less than they did last year even if they did visit. As a result, net revenues for Cedar Fair’s third quarter are projected to be between $85 million and $95 million – far less than the $715 million seen in last year’s third quarter.

Although the company’s financial strain is significant, consumers do not deserve to be taken advantage of in order to pad profits. Unfortunately, Cedar Fair season pass holders may have been denied refunds despite the parks being closed for most of the year.

Has A Cedar Fair Season Pass Class Action Lawsuit Been Filed?

According to plaintiff Moneva Walker’s recent Cedar Fair class action lawsuit, she and other season pass holders deserve refunds for their 2020 purchases.

Walker reportedly purchased a 2020 season pass to Knott’s Berry Farm when she lived in California. Unfortunately, the park reportedly closed in mid-March with no reopening date set. As a result, Walker allegedly did not get the benefits she expected when she purchased a 2020 season pass.

Season passes are significant expenses for consumers like Walker, she alleges. Regular or silver passes reportedly range from $60 to $100 for a year, gold passes run between $80 and $120, and platinum passes – which allow unlimited access to all Cedar Fair parks – are around $200.

Walker argues that, when she and other season pass holders paid these fees, they entered into a contract with Cedar Fair in which the park operator agreed to provide “unlimited visits” “all season long” (i.e., visit “as many times as you want all season”) for the promised year.

Although Cedar Fair has agreed to extend 2020 season passes to the 2021 park season, Walker argues that she and other season pass holders deserve the option to refund their 2020 season pass instead of just having their passes extended.

“Plaintiff and millions of others bought season passes for the 2020 season. But in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the season was cancelled at many parks and substantially shortened and restricted at the rest,” the Cedar Fair class action lawsuit says. “Despite not providing the promised 2020 season, Defendants have not refunded pass fees.”

The Cedar Fair Season Pass Class Action Lawsuit is Moneva Walker v. Cedar Fair L.P., et al., Case No. 3:20-cv-02176-JZ, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.